It’s another Facebook Friday!
Today’s group is Christian Poets & Writers administered by Mary Harwell Sayler. It’s group description is as follows:
The CHRISTIAN POETS & WRITERS group exists to encourage each other in our Christian faith and improve our writing in all genres to draw readers to Christ and up-build the church in Jesus’ Name.
Not wasting much time here today. Want to direct you to an amazing article called The Wonderful Ache of Beauty (Why We Need Art) by writer Jeff Gions.
Head on over—it is very much worth the read. And make sure you listen to the song—it is very much worth the listen!
Freedom In The Dance Ministry (FITD) is an evangelistic
praise dance ministry that travels the world teaching and ministering in dance. Established and ministering since 1988 under the direction and leadership of Mickye Castillo, who serves as the Director of Dance under Bishop T.D. Jakes at the Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas.
What is a Meandering Book? is the question posed and explained by blogger Jessica Hollowell, Owner of JessCreateIt.com.
I love this creative idea! It would be great for art journaling, Bible art journaling, and scrapbookers. Perhaps you want to create a reminder of God’s faithfulness; a book of your favorite scripture verses; compile pictures of people and missionaries you pray for; or have a reminder of a mission trip you went on. I think this meandering book would be a great option for all these ideas and many more.
Summer is fast approaching, and for those of you who look for books to read over the summer, have I got a resource for you!
Worship the Rock blog has compiled an extensive list of 100 Books on Worship. Although it’s geared towards worship leaders, there are many titles on this list for everyone! I can tell you as a worship leader myself, many of these are the books we would love our congregations to be reading right alongside us!
We’ve spent the week examining the value of art from a heavenly perspective. Art can be redemptive or prophetic. It can be intercessory in nature or draw people into worship. Today let’s consider the healing or restorative value of art.
In this article, Christian Art for Healing, author/artist Sara Joseph shares her experience with using her creative process as a way to bring healing and restoration to her heart. She also offers suggestions and creative prompts to help you, as well. A powerful testimony of God’s healing power through art.
In this article, Sara shares this artwork and states:
“To my surprise, in my anxious conversations with God, He brings healing through the process of creating art.
Release
Polymer Clay Relief Sculpture
(C) Sara Joseph
11×14″I remember a deep concern that I had during a brief, but trying, season with one of my sons that resulted in the polymer clay sculpture shown here. It is called ‘Release’, because I knew that it was what I ought to do. Yet as I worked, it appeared as if my concerns and worries needed to be worked into the clay, before any sort of release could be attempted. So I doggedly expressed all my worries about him to God.”
Today, in honor of the National Day of Prayer, I want to direct you to this song by Joshua Aaron called Hoshiana (Save, Please). It is a BEaUtiful song of intercession for the nations and a wonderful example of intercessory art, crying out to God on behalf of the nations!
No other name by which we are saved but the Name of the Lord
Oh that the world will know Your Name
That the nations will call on the Name of the Lord
The Name of Yeshua!
Priestly art directs attention to God. It leads us into praise and worship of the Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It ministers first to God and second to the people of God.
Called to Belong Worship Event
I have featured Colleen Briggs and Fragments of Light here before. I want to direct you to her post entitled Prophetic Art.
As a Christian artist or creative, it is important to consider the redemptive value of your work. When viewed from a worldly perspective, we think of art in terms of monetary value—have we sold original pieces, prints, copies, songs, albums, scripts, . . . ? And we limit the value of our work to units sold. However, when we open ourselves as creatives to a heavenly view of value, we come to realize a whole new commodity. Are we changing lives, healing hearts, revealing beauty, seeking justice, claiming hearts for Our Creator? We begin to realize that there is a greater redemptive value to our work.
CIVA or Christians in the Visual Arts is a community of Christian artists who are: called to creative work; devoted to the church; and present in culture. Their vision statement is “Serious Art. Serious Faith,” and they seek after both pursuits.
On the CIVA.org webpage you can find links to resources, local and regional exhibits and events, as well as how you can rent a traveling exhibit for your church or ministry facility. There’s also information about their biennial summer conference held at Calvin College in Michigan. The 2015 conference is June 11-14.
CIVA.org
Bringing you another amazing TED Talk from Jarrett J. Krosoczka. “How a boy became an artist” is a great story about how Jarrett became an author and illustrator of children’s books. This is why arts education is so important!!
Ad Deum Dance is a professional modern / contemporary dance company based in Houston, Texas. Under the director of founder Randall Flinn, who established the company in January 2000, dancers come to Ad Deum seeking to be connected with a community of artists that share a common vision and desire. The mission of Ad Deum is to create and perform excellent and vital works of dance that serve to wash over the heart and soul of humanity with relevant meaning and redemptive hope. They tour all over the world!
Faith and Form is a journal that explores the intersections of religion, art and architecture. In 2014, they awarded 32 structures their International Award for Religious Art & Architecture. Check out pictures of all the award winners here:
Art against injustice: Justice Sees illustrates the sobering reality of human trafficking and the way God cries out to the oppressed.
Dancer: Rebecca Ludwick http://www.krswing.com
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
Another Facebook Friday!
Today’s group is called Christian Artists and its group description reads as follows:
Christian artists, Christian dancers, Christian painters, Christian sculptors, Christian musicians, Christian singers, Christian actors, Christian writers and poets.
We are interested in networking and showcasing excellence in the arts for God’s glory.
God has spoken into the heart of many creatives I know saying “2015 is the year of CREATIVITY!” Today features one of those people!
Creative Awakenings is the blog of preacher, teacher, pastor and author Bernard Boulton. On his blog, he offers encouragement and wisdom to artists and creatives of all mediums and forms. With the heart of a pastor, Bernard is committed to helping build the kingdom of God in and through His creative people.
Today I want to introduce you to Jocelyn Richard, an anointed dancer minister and teacher filled with joy and wisdom. She has served as the chief dancer and choreographer for the Elim International Fellowship in Brooklyn, New York. She performs and teaches across the US and even in the Caribbean. She is a regular speaker at many worship dance conferences! Continue reading
Referring you to the Interactive Prayer Station tab of Still Waters blog today. Still Waters is the blog of Pastor Theresa who is a self-described second generation Korean-American Pastor and Mother. On her blog she has posted instructions and photos for well over 50 different themed interactive prayer stations focusing on everything from Epiphany, Lent, and Advent, to various Gospel stories, social justice issues, as well as light, love and baptism.
Ever wish you had a better singing voice? We all know God’s Word says to lift a joyful noise unto the Lord, but we sometimes wish our joyful didn’t sound so off-pitch!
Enjoy this article complete with tips on How to Sing Gospel from Vocal Singing Tips. Then practice along with this live version of Tasha Cobbs singing Break Every Chain:
Nurturing the Creative Spirit Within 